News

Thorns in the gardener’s side

Heather is already abundant in the New Forest National Park, Lyndhurst, Hampshire (Chris Ison)

AS if on cue, an anticyclone, or area of high pressure, has taken centre stage
for the bank holiday. It’s not exactly warm but the weather shows signs of
settling down for a few days — great for those off on Monday and anyone
planning days out during the final week of the school break.

Most of August has been unsettled and the past week continued in the same
vein. An Atlantic frontal system dominated in the west and southwest,
bringing some sunshine but also plenty of heavy, thundery showers. Eastern
Britain has been influenced by the warm, humid and unstable air over the
near continent with heavy, thundery rain spreading north during Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday. It felt autumnal. The low pressure area responsible for
the heavy rain across eastern counties at the end of last week continued
northwards to bring gales and heavy rain to parts of Scotland, with